Celebrating Women’s History Month

The individuals could have done it in a quiet way or they could have taken their message in a way to raise a few eyebrows

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By Bill Shrum, bshrum@stuttgartdailyleader.com

Stuttgart Daily Leader - Stuttgart, AR

By Bill Shrum, bshrum@stuttgartdailyleader.com

Posted Mar. 7, 2013 at 3:01 PM
Updated Mar 7, 2013 at 3:03 PM

By Bill Shrum, bshrum@stuttgartdailyleader.com

Posted Mar. 7, 2013 at 3:01 PM
Updated Mar 7, 2013 at 3:03 PM

STUTTGART

Throughout history there have been significant individuals in various fields and walks of life who have dared to rock the social mores of the day. The individuals could have done it in a quiet way or they could have taken their message in a way to raise a few eyebrows, with one stunt which was never done or heard of until then. That is what has happen with the women’s movement through the years and why in 1981, Congress passed and requested that the week of March 7, 1982 would be proclaimed Women's History Week.

As time progressed, more people were recognizing various women of history and their accomplishments through the years. In 1987, Congress passed a resolution to make the entire month of March Women's History Month. Since 1995, the past presidents, Clinton, Bush and Obama have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as National Women's History Month.

It is very difficult for women who have grown up with some varied equal rights to realize that women didn't always have the rights and privileges that they have today. It was a man's world and believe me a man told a woman where her place was supposed to be, right behind a man and not beside him. That was the way it was. A woman was seen and not heard among the men and believe me that was the way it was.

There were a number of women who were not going to put up with that and there were a few who were killed, humiliated and ridiculed even among their own sex because of that. There were a few who took to public speaking about the women's movement, which had to take time before it make an impact.

Women in America were talking about voting in 1850, but were virtually laughed at. However as years progressed and more women joined in with the vocal aspect as well as integrating it into legislation in each state, it was hard to ignore and when a large group of women get together to make noise, it is hard to ignore. That is virtually what happened and in 1920, the bill passed as an amendment and my great-grandmother got her right to vote, which was denied up until then.

Can you imagine how many women of today, who have made significant accomplishments in many fields, didn't have that opportunity before the women's movement? It is very hard to realize that today because we have always been around it, but it did happen. The women of today should be very thankful for the women who came before them who tried to make their world a better place to live and accomplish their dreams which before then was non-existent.

The early leaders, even in 1850, were Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. These women took their message to town hall meetings, churches and any other kind of meeting places. They were heckled, laughed at and even ignored by many prominent leaders in local, state, regional and national government. Even though there were a number of states who recognized women's voting rights, not all of the states in the nations recognized them until 1920.

Page 2 of 2 - This practice was against the law in many states and women could be arrested and jailed if they did this. This did happen. There were even meetings of women at various houses in New York during the late 1800s and early 1900s, who were arrested on suspected prostitution and sent to jail because the laws in that state were opposed to women's rights. These things actually happened in the "Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave."

The first woman to serve in the United States congress was from Arkansas and her name was Hattie Carraway of Jonesboro. Her husband was the Senator from Arkansas and when he died, the lawmakers encouraged her to fill out his term. Then the big deal began, she decided she wanted to run for his seat with a crowded field of men challenging her and despite all of the mud slinging, she won in 1938. For re-election in 1944, she lost to the dynamic J. William Fulbright from Fayetteville. The rest is history.